mignette: an R package for creating and visualizing migratory network models

A prominent challenge for managing migratory species is the development of conservation plans that accommodate spatiotemporally varying distributions throughout the year. Migratory networks are spatially-explicit models that incorporate migratory assignment and seasonal abundance data to define patterns of connectivity between stages of the annual cycle. These models are particularly useful for widespread application because different types of migratory data can be used to quantify individual and population-level movement across the annual cycle of migratory species. While there are clear benefits of combining migratory assignment and abundance data for the development of conservation strategies, there is a concurrent need for corresponding user-friendly software to facilitate the integration of these data for conservation.

Here, we present mignette (migratory network tools ensemble), an R package for developing migratory network models to estimate network connectivity among migratory populations. We demonstrate the functionality of mignette with three empirical examples that highlight the use of different types of tracking data for migratory assignment.

mignette facilitates the modelling of migratory networks by providing R functions to: (1) define breeding and nonbreeding nodes, (2) assemble abundance and assignment data and (3) model the migratory network. Additionally, mignette provides R functions to visualize modelled migratory networks.

With increasing availability of migratory assignment and abundance data, mignette represents a valuable tool for developing effective conservation strategies for migratory species.